Fraser Island Fun

27th December 2013 - 1st January 2014

Our adventure in the largest sand island in the world, (Take 2 - for those keeping count, April 2013 was our first visit to Fraser for the Anzac break).  Check out the link for the map of Fraser Island
Getting ready for the ferry crossing at Inskip Point

Fishing on the beach just relaxing between swimming and eating.

First campsite (Cornwells), our wee green tent that does us proud, the communal blue tent and Craig's little yellow tent.  Close to the beach so we could fish and swim, just beautiful!

Craig (right) and Eak after a walk to look over a large blow out, the sand dune moves 1 meter  inland every year.

Shahn enjoying the sun.

Swimming with the bait fish

Night Fishing, red lighting it up, we had glowing sand and water that night not sure if was Dinoflagellates or Triboluminesence

Richard and Craig fishing, we failed to catch anything on a night time excursion so we tried during the day and catching fish up here was hard work.

Champagne Pools trying to cool down

Outside our camp site in the far north of Fraser Island (Carree), Richard and Shahn fishing, sea temp had to be at least 25 degrees

The camp shower at Carree

The camp, our sweet tents, the kitchen tent (massive blue one) was really good to hide away from the biting march flies

Shahn fishing...... and yet still no fish

Craig and Richard relaxing on the beach.

Craig and I went fishing down on the point, we came across a massive turtle did not manage to get a photo but very cool.

Graves near the lighthouse.

Checking the battery after running the fridge for two days, green for good

Having beers playing uker and eating chocolate, Richard is really happy about life.

Driving in the rainforest

Shahn enjoying the shower finally some fresh water, strategic tarp & pole work so I didn't have to shower in my bikinis, lovely hot water shower in the rude for New Year's Eve!

Craig and Richard fishing and kicking a ball about.

Our last campsite awesome (Wongai) bit sandy but you get that on the island, but heaps of horse(march) flies.

Shahn reading and relaxing, Midori and reclining - ohhhhh yeah!

Craig and I having a beer and Fishing.
Outcome of the whole trip for fish. Craig 1 Michael 1 Richard 0 and Shahn 0
But over all just good fun.

Walking along the beach looking for tracks, nice 8km walk in the dark, just had to watch out for the crabs every step you almost stood on one.

Turtle, I'm not good with my identification but either Green turtle or Loggerhead. But my money is on a green as they are more common.

Very cool Turtle Laying eggs

Following the tracks up the beach.

Beautiful Turtle on the beach

Turtle laying eggs

Just loving it, fantastic weather, had to carry heaps of water and a short walk in the bush you over heat

Heading back to camp, then back to Eurong for ice-cream water and then off for a swim

Heading along Orchid Beach

Ngkala Rocks, Waiting hours to cross when people get stuck, drivers just need to lower their tyre pressure and keep you speed up it, as none wants to spend all day in their car, we all just want to get to campsites

The sun blocked out from bush fires.

The Maheno Wreck ghostly scene…...

Dingo's at our camp

A few random night shots, party goes walking home with glow sticks

Craig off walking

Bush Fire.

Crossing the creek to get to the beach..... a bit deeper than I thought.

Hiking, swimming and other weekend fun

Girraween & Stanthorpe - 5th to 7th October 2013

Another return visit to Stanthorpe, we love the area as there are lovely walks and everyone is very friendly. The days are incredibly hot and the nights freezing.  We camped at Bald Rock over the long weekend and managed to tag along to the local Observatory tour, it was awesome - he had his own dome and a great knowledge of astronomy, awesome night under the stars!

Shahn all rugged up outside the dome and telescope that he built in his backyard. It was a 46cm reflector cool images turns a small twinkling star into a whole mass of thousands filling the entire view finder.

Eak taking some creative pics of our campsite at Girraween!

Cooking some eggs, lovely day

Sphinx rock and Turtle Rock. There was this crevasse that split the two massive rocks, Eak being the perfect gentleman as always let me go first. So it was a climb up but a body width so I was trying to get myself up the higher step, turned sideways to get myself higher and got my ass stuck, Eak was pissing himself laughing and the guy above me who kindly lifted my bag out, was judging me but beautiful view from the top.

Video to show how graceful I am.  Hahaha!

Butt crack rock hehehe!

Climbing up the pyramids again!

The quick way down

Getting to the top of this rock was a mission, bit of rough climbing good fun

Because everyone that climbs up a rock needs to do a handstand, we love it!!!

Cunningham's Skink (Egernia Cunninghami)

White Rock Conservation Area - 1st December 2013

 Sunday afternoon wander before Eak headed back to Chinchilla for the week. 

We climbed up the side of this wee rock, and met a lovely lady up the top having her lunch and of course we chatted to her for an hour but she showed us another track out which was good. Nice walk.

Mount Norman  - 23rd November 2013

Another weekend walk, it was a pretty crappy day but that made it nice and cool for walking. It was quite challenging this hike, lots of steep sections and lots of stairs. Just stopping for a snack and some water before heading back down before the storm set in. When we got back to Ipswich there was a huge thunder storm that blew our power which meant homemade Sushi for dinner by headlight.

Having a snack up the hill, watching out for snakes with out gaiters on!

Enjoying the view watching storms build

Lace Monitor a big bugger

Mount Timbrogargen - Glass House Mountains 22nd December 2013

We have covered most of the Glass House Mountains now, Timbrogargen was one that Shahn never made it to the top of previously (in hindsight, a very clever move) it was a bloody tough climb - hot as rocks, vertical cliffs and pretty much a freestyle rock climb.  We have been doing a bit of indoor rock climbing so that helped. 

Climbing up Tibrogargan, Shahn did not enjoy this so much a bit steep and lots of shear rock, drinking litres of water and as the rock was so hot from the sun it burnt your hands as you climbed.

Sussing out the climb

The view down…..

Shahn was happy with the climb at this stage

The warning sign - rocks kill people

Enjoying the view from the top

Shahn looking really happy with life (just to clarify, it was 35degrees and very little wind.  We were so sweaty! I didn't make it up the top last time and I did it this time, on the way home I vomited in the service station car park from heat stroke and probably dehydration too - dedication I think, thoughts??)

Michael just living

Dragonfly

Bribie Island in the distance

Cootchiemudlo Island - 21st December 2013

We look gooooood.
So we caught the ferry 

Shahn kayaking and Michael paddle boarding.  Enjoying the South East QLD sun!

Also sailing at Wivenhoe Shahn dared me to see how easy it was to flip my boat so I got out there and put the hammer down and went as fast as I could until I over powered it and flipped the boat, Little did I know that with out extra body weight i was unable to flip the cat back over…… I must have been out there for half an hour until Darryl had to swim out to give me a hand. Lesson learned….. need a float on the mast or mast filled with foam and possibly a bit more weight or a longer rope. So I owe him one or two….

The Kiwi kids playing a bit of Mini putt and having a few light beverages